On Thursday, May 22, UJA and JCRC-NY held a Democratic New York City mayoral candidates town hall on issues of critical concern to New York’s Jewish community. Candidates submitted responses prior to the town hall and also faced live questions. Primary day is Tuesday, June 24.

Former governor Andrew Cuomo was up first, noting antisemitism as a critical issue for the city. “New York has more incidents of antisemitism than any city in the country. Hate grows. There has been a progressive rhetoric and political mobilization against Israel that has been antisemitic. We haven’t enforced laws we have in place. I’ve always been a very aggressive supporter of Israel. I was the most aggressive supporter of Israel as governor. It’s personal for me.”

As governor, Cuomo signed the strongest hate crimes law in the country and was the first governor to “come out against BDS, by executive order, not by legislation. As mayor, I would institute the IHRA standard across the board. I would want every school child to visit the Holocaust Museum at Battery Park City. Let them understand firsthand what that is. We can have zero tolerance for antisemitic activity, period. The law is clear. Enforce the law.

“This issue troubles me,” Cuomo continued. “This tears at the fabric of who we are. It’s getting worse, not better. We cannot be passive. We have to be aggressive, to confront it, to call it what it is. It’s hate. It’s anti-American. It’s anti-democratic. It has no place in this state. It has no place in this city that was built by the Jewish community. We have zero tolerance. We have to say that with one voice and loudly. Otherwise you’re going to see it continue to grow.”

When asked to explain his support for BDS, Zohran Mamdani stated, “My support for BDS is consistent with the core of my politics, which is nonviolence. I think it’s a legitimate movement when you are seeking to find compliance with international law. We have seen the Israeli government be out of compliance with international law, not only with regards to what’s happening in Gaza today as well as in the West Bank, but also prior to that. We have seen over the course of not-so-distant history, the effectiveness of boycott, divestment and sanctions to motivate compliance at both the state and individual level. That’s where my support for it comes from.”

Asked if he would arrest Benjamin Netanyahu if he came to New York, Mamdani noted, “I believe our city should be in compliance with international law. If I was asked the same question about Vladimir Putin, I would have the same answer. Ultimately, it’s wanting to show the leadership I think is missing in our city and country. What troubles me greatly is that Benjamin Netanyahu has also issued commands, military commands from this very city when visiting it. Those are commands we have seen photos of him in a hotel room, making that decision, a decision that has killed many innocent people. I do not want our city to be party to those kinds of decisions. I do not want individuals who are wanted for those kinds of international crimes, as stated by the International Criminal Court, to feel that they are welcome here.”

Adrienne Adams said, “The rise in antisemitic hate crimes has shaken Jewish communities across our city. It must be met with urgent action. While many groups have also been targeted, antisemitism has grown with disturbing speed, online and in our streets. As speaker, I secured $5 million annually for community-based hate crime prevention and invested in Simon Wiesenthal Center programs that train young people to identify and stop the spread of online hate. Nearly 100,000 students have already been activated through this training program. As mayor, I will strengthen these efforts, starting with a fully funded and staffed Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes. I will make sure it works hand in hand with Jewish leaders and educators across the five boroughs, expands its reach in schools, and ensures swift responses to hate before it escalates. Anyone who violates the law or engages in a hate crime will be held accountable. Hate has no place in our city. Not now. Not ever.”

Brad Lander noted, “As a proud Jewish New Yorker, I have a long history of bringing New Yorkers together, bridging divides, and standing up against antisemitism and all forms of hate. Over a decade as a city council member in a district with a large number of Jews and Muslims, I consistently organized against antisemitism, Islamophobia and brought people together to stand up to hate through dialogue, education, rallies and vigils, and through partnership with community and faith organizations, and with law enforcement.

Lander continued, “I believe it’s imperative we stand up for the protection of free speech and nonviolent protest, even when we disagree strongly with what’s being said. As the highest ranking Jewish-elected official in city government, I am proud to have released the most comprehensive plan in this race, ‘Safer for All: Hate Has No Place in Our City,’ to combat the rise in hate crimes and antisemitism through cutting-edge technology, evidence-based prevention programs, victim support and stronger law enforcement. I commit to collaborating with Jewish community leaders, as well as leaders of other religious, ethnic and identity communities who are regularly targeted for hate crimes in the further development and implementation of the plan.”

Zellnor Myrie remarked, “Every New Yorker, regardless of faith, background or lived experiences, deserves to walk our streets without fear. As mayor, I will ensure that the NYPD works proactively with community leaders to identify risks, deploy appropriate security resources, and maintain open lines of communication before and during public demonstrations. While protest is a protected right, harassment and intimidation are not. I respect the right for all people to peacefully protest, but violence has absolutely no place in the democratic process. Unlawful protests that incite fear in the Jewish community, including those that involve hate speech or targeted threats, will be met with swift, lawful and proportionate responses. Hate, in any form, has no place in New York.”

Scott Stringer stated, “The Jewish community has long been discriminated against and neglected by the institutions intended to serve them. The current wave of antisemitic demonstrations and attacks puts the safety of New Yorkers in jeopardy and infringes upon the civil rights of all Americans. When elected, I will adopt a zero tolerance approach to Jewish hate in this city. I will prioritize protecting Jewish kids on college campuses. Masked people cower behind their anonymity as they threaten our safety and our children’s future; it must come to an end. I will partner with local leaders and organizations to craft a criminal justice and public safety plan that meets the needs of all communities and end the overwhelming hate being directed at us throughout the five boroughs. The Stringer administration will not stop until the dignity and humanity of all Jewish Americans is protected.”